Katrina Relief: Trans Woman Arrested For Showering

Sharli’e Dominique was arrested at Texas A&M, for the "crime" of taking a shower in their arena where she had been living. Sharli'e had already used the shower twice, so she was understandably horrified by her arrest. From the Southern Voice:

“I asked the volunteer posted at the shower if I could use it,” Dominique said. “She said, ‘sure.’” When campus security arrived to arrest Dominique for criminal trespass, she said she thought it was a joke, until police handcuffed and booked her.

“They didn’t tell me anything in jail except that the court system was backed up for six months to a year and I should expect to be there that long,” Dominique said.

Sharli's story came to light only by accident, so we can only assume that there are others just like her that are suffering doubly after being driven from the relative safety of queer-friendly New Orleans into more homophobic and transphobic areas. There will doubtless be more stories to tell.